north carolina
CDL Practice Test

Welcome to the CDL practice test site for North Carolina. You can use this site to prepare for the official North Carolina DMV CDL Test. The questions on these practice tests apply to all of the areas you'll need to be knowledgeable in to obtain your NC CDL. You can take these practice tests as many times as you need to, and all of these tests are free. You will be presented with 40 questions and you must answer 34 questions correctly to pass. There is a 50-minute time limit. You may not go back once you answer a question. Click the "Start Test" button below to begin.

1 / 40

With the controlled braking method, you _____?

apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels

repeatedly tap the brakes as fast as you can

apply the brakes all the way until the wheels lock up, release the brakes and apply them again when the wheels start to roll again

lightly apply braking pressure

2 / 40

Buses are prohibited from carrying all of the following hazardous materials except:

Small-arms ammunition.

Materials labeled radioactive in the space occupied by people.

Properly labeled poison gas canisters.

Properly secured tear gas canisters.

3 / 40

You should turn off your engine when loading flammable liquid unless:

You are loading at night and need the headlights.

You are a non-smoker.

You need the engine to run the pump.

The material does not need a placard.

4 / 40

Should the air pressure in the service air tanks fall below____the driver must be alerted via warning mechanism in the truck cab.

60 psi

30 psi

50 psi

80 psi

5 / 40

You must have placards for explosives, poison gas or flammables exceeding:

10 pounds

100 pounds

Any amount

10 cartons

6 / 40

You should adjust all the outside left and right side convex mirrors to see:

200 feet behind the bus.

The children's exit path out of the main bus door.

The right and left front tires touching the ground.

The entire area to the rear of the mirror along the side of the bus.

7 / 40

Select the two things that are important in preventing a rollover:

the length and weight of the vehicle

drive slowly around turns and keep the cargo as close to the ground as possible

maintaining properly inflated tires and an even load on the trailer

drive slowly around turns and keep the center of gravity of the cargo as high as possible

8 / 40

Select the answer that is not a part of the braking process when driving a tractor-trailer combination vehicle that has ABS:

only use the braking that is necessary to safely stay in control of the vehicle

you should monitor the tractor and trailer as you decrease your speed to keep control

you should brake in the same manner regardless of what you are driving

you should drive at a higher speed to keep the trailer in line

9 / 40

When you have a major leak in the service line and you apply pressure to the brakes, the service air pressure will escape and:

the trailer emergency brakes will kick on

the tractor spring brakes will kick on

the trailer tank pressure will be gone

the hand valve will stop functioning

10 / 40

The floor liner for explosives may not:

Contain any of these materials.

Contain steel or iron.

Contain cracks or holes.

Contain nails or screws.

11 / 40

The transport index of a radioactive material:

None of these answers are correct.

Is another way of writing the weight of the package.

Tells the degree of control needed during transportation.

Is something that only the shipper needs to worry about.

12 / 40

Always try to back toward the driver's side because

you can see better, watching the vehicle rear out the side window

it's more comfortable for turning your neck

your truck will naturally pull toward the driver's side

all of these answers are correct

13 / 40

The manual says you should look _____ ahead while driving.

15 to 20 seconds, at highway speeds, about a half of a mile

5 to 8 seconds, at highway speeds, about an eighth of a mile

9 to 12 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

12 to 15 seconds, at highway speeds, about a quarter of a mile

14 / 40

An "A/W" the first column of the hazardous materials table means:

It is ok to ship this material by air only.

This material is only restricted when shipped by air and/or water.

There is no restrictions with this material if shipped by water only.

This material has no restrictions when shipped by air and/or water.

15 / 40

What is the best way to prevent brakes form overheating while drive down a steep grade?

use the trailer brakes only

use countersteering practices

drive at a speed of 5 mph below your safe speed

use the stab braking method

16 / 40

How often should you check the tires on a placarded trailer that has dual tires?

Once every three hours.

Each time you stop.

Start of each day and every time you stop.

Once every 100 miles.

17 / 40

The direction of liquid movement not prevented by baffles is:

Back to front.

Side to side.

None of the answers listed.

Bottom to top.

18 / 40

An emergency escape ramp should be used _____.

only in ideal conditions

only when not carrying a load

only when it is raining

any time the truck experiences a significant loss of braking power

19 / 40

The average person requires how many hours of sleep per 24 hour period?

5 or 6

6 or 7

7 or 8

8 or 9

20 / 40

You are required to have a tank endorsement when transporting:

Gas or liquid

Materials that are hazardous

Passengers

Bulk fertilizer

21 / 40

You are inspecting the_____when looking for broken welds, cracks, holes, or other damage to the longitudinal frame member, cross members, box, and floor.

apron

catwalk

fifth wheel

frame

22 / 40

Buses may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies, and drugs. However, buses must never carry:

More than 250 pounds total of all allowed hazardous materials.

More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.

More than 750 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.

More than 1000 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 200 pounds of any one class.

23 / 40

When using turn signals, which of the following should be avoided?

signal just before you start to make a turn

signal when you are merging into traffic

signal when you want to change lanes

signal before you exit

24 / 40

How should the hand valve be used?

only in conjuction with the foot brake

only in emergency situations

to test the trailer brakes

when the trailer is fully loaded down

25 / 40

Do empty trucks have the best braking?

yes

yes, but only on wet surfaces

yes, but only if the truck is newer than 1998

26 / 40

When fueling a placarded vehicle, someone must always be:

At the nozzle, controlling the fuel flow.

Be at the rear most corner on the vehicle.

Within 10 feet of the pump with a fire extinguisher.

At the emergency power shut off for the pump.

27 / 40

A slack adjuster is:

a lever that connects the return spring and the brake chamber push rod

a lever that connects the brake chamber push rod with the foundation brake camshaft

a lever that connects the brake drum to the brake shoe

a lever that connects the brake camshaft with the brake chamber

28 / 40

Which of the following answers lists the three types of emergency equipment you must have on your bus?

Emergency reflectors, fire extinguisher, signal flares and tire repair kit.

Hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, signal flares.

Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers), and emergency reflectors.

Repair kit, spare electric fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers), and fire extinguisher.

29 / 40

You should____when an emergency requires you to quickly stop due to a crash.

maintain pressure on the brake pedal

use the hand valve

use only the engine brakes

use stab or controlled braking

30 / 40

With the engine cut off and the brakes released the air loss in a straight truck or bus should not be more than:

3 psi in a minute

5 psi in a minute

2 psi in a minute

4 psi in a minute

31 / 40

Select the inappropriate way to test for the low pressure warning signal.

turn off the engine

have the electrical power on

decreased the air pressure by stepping on and off the brake pedal

ask for a pedestrian to listen for the signal

32 / 40

For Division 1.1 or 1.2 Explosives A, should the floor liner required be stainless steel?

Never use a floor liner for any explosive class

Yes

Any type of floor liner is sufficient

33 / 40

Your engine runs a pump when you are delivering compressed gas. Should you turn off your engine before or after you unhook the hoses after finishing that delivery?

Turn it off on arrival—use other power to run the pump.

Turn if off after unhooking.

Turn it off before unhooking.

Leave it on the entire time.

34 / 40

The gauge that needs to come up to normal levels after starting the engine within a few seconds is _____.

blood pressure

oil pressure

air brake pressure

oil temperature

35 / 40

You are driving a 40 foot truck at 35 MPH, how much space (in seconds) should you keep in front of you?

6 seconds

3 seconds

4 seconds

5 seconds

36 / 40

Suspension systems:

keep the axles in place

keep the load secure

keep the steering wheel tight

keep the brake drums from failing

37 / 40

Select the true statement in regards to empty trucks:

they are easier to stop because there isn't cargo shifting in the trailer

they may have poor traction due to bouncing and wheel lockup

none of the answers listed

they require a shorter stopping distance than a fully loaded trailer

38 / 40

Select the accurate statement in regards to rolling up the landing gear to complete the coupling process.

you should leave the landing gear at the half way mark to make the uncoupling process easier later

you should use a low gear until the tractor is supporting the trailer

you should grease the landing gear the increase the speed of the process

you should use a high gear to make the process faster

39 / 40

Make sure____when the front trailer supports are up and the trailer is sitting on the tractor.

there is enough space for clearance between the landing gear and the tractor frame

neither of the answers listed

there is enough space for clearance between the nose of the trailer and the tops of the tractor tires

both of the answers listed

40 / 40

If you park the trailer at an angle to the tractor when uncoupling:

you won't have to take as many steps around the vehicle

damage could occur to the landing gear

you will have more space to maneuver in the lot

the process will be faster and easier

Your score is

The average score is 0%

5/5 - (3 votes)

CDL Category Practice Tests

CDL Practice Test

How To Get A north carolina Commercial Drivers License

To be eligible for a CDL in North Carolina, applicants must meet the following age eligibility requirements.

Be at least 18 years old to operate a commercial vehicle intrastate (within North Carolina only).
Be at least 21 years old to operate a commercial vehicle interstate (outside of North Carolina).

North Carolina applicants must provide proof that they are medically fit to operate a commercial vehicle and pass a vision test. Applicants are required to submit the following documents.

(Form CDL-MED-1) Medical Certification of Driver Type or Commercial Driver’s License
Medical Card
Full Medical Report (depending on the circumstances)

Drivers who have had their licenses revoked, suspended, denied or canceled are not eligible for a CDL in North Carolina. Applicants can be disqualified from the application process for having multiple licenses.

North Carolina CDL Endorsements
H – Hazmat Vehicles
N – Tank Vehicles
P – Passenger Vehicles
S – School Bus
T – Double or Triple Trailer

Hit the Open Road

north carolina CDL License Test Tips

All North Carolina CDL applicants must pass the general knowledge test prior to taking the skills test. The general knowledge test consists of 50 questions. To pass the North Carolina test, applicants must score 80 percent or higher. Applicants who require additional endorsements must pass additional tests and pay the required fees. The North Carolina skills test can be taken 14 days after applicants pass the knowledge test. It includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic control skills and on-road driving. Applicants must pass each section.

Military veterans who were discharged within 1 year of the application and current military members can apply to have the skills exam waived if they meet the requirements. To qualify for a waiver, applicants must:

Be active duty military personnel.
Have operated a motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial motor vehicle in the military within 2 years of the application date.
Submit a Certification for Waiver of CDL Skills Test for Military Personnel.

Additional Information

Information on the North Carolina Department of Transportation

The North Carolina Department of Transportation provides administers CDL license requirements in North Carolina. To get more information contact them via:

Website: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/commercial/Pages/default.aspx

Phone: 915.715.7000

Additional North Carolina CDL Helpful Links

Please use the links below to access more valuable North Carolina CDL testing resources and to learn more about practice driving tests for the state of North Carolina.

north carolina CDL Practice Test